MINIATURE FORTRESSES 137 



loose silvery sheaths glistening in the bright sunshine, and a 

 sight that will not easily be forgotten. The plants blossom 

 from June to September and in Mexico are known as "Vela 

 de Cojote" because of the shining spines; in the noonday rays 

 of the sun at a distance of a mile or more, a forest of these 

 plants on a hot day resembles a wavering, glistening white 

 sheet of light, because of the tremendous heat vibrations of 

 the vertical rays of the sun. 



Cursed CholLA (Opuntia Stanlyi) 



Northern Mexico, Southern Arizona, and New Mexico 



Prostrate stems worming their way In Impenetrable 

 patches of six to twelve feet across the sandy soils of southern 

 Arizona and Northern Mexico, a creeping, crawling mass of 

 rough hairy spines and sheaths, stout sharp swords dangerous 

 and effective In harshly repulsing advance of animal or Ig- 

 norant human. Is the Devil Cactus or Cursed Cholla, a ver- 

 itable fortress on the desert. A welcome retreat for small 

 rodents, snakes, and lizards, this terrible growth, Opuntia 

 Stanlyi, Is an object of fear to man and beast alike ! spreading 

 over the grazing lands and creating impenetrable areas dan- 

 gerous and worthless for stock. One shudders when he sees 

 the awful thing, repellent yet strangely magnetic, and gen- 

 erally tourists are glad to turn from it and retrace their steps 

 to the highway. 



Whipple's Cholla (Opuntia Whipplei) 



Northern Arizona, New Mexico, Western Colorado, 

 and Southern Utah 



One more of the fierce Cholla group must claim our atten- 

 tion, bringing to a close our search for these cruel, relentless 

 growths, awful to contemplate in many instances yet strangely 



